1. Differences in the pelvis
Male pelvis is narrower; illia are not as splayed; arch in front is V shaped
Female pelvis is wider, more robust, illia splay outward, arch in front U shaped

2. Differences in the skull
Male cranium is generally bigger Female cranium:
has a square chin; rounded chin;
less angle to jaw; sharper angle to jaw;
larger mastoid bone; smaller mastoid bone;
small bump at back; no bump at back;
more sloping forehead; more bulging forehead;
heavier browridges fainter browridges

3. Clues from Teeth Can obtain lots of information from teeth
What types of food were consumed
How they interacted with environment to acquire food
For example, the patterns of wear on the teeth suggest a diet of hard food items such as nuts, seeds and roots requiring lots of chewing and grinding

4. Other important information
Age of bones/fossils
Important to place in evolutionary time frame
Many scientific methods to determine age
Forensic information – What can we learn about the individual?
Stature
Age at time of death
Diseases or injuries evident
Strenuous physical activity
This information is important to reconstruct the variation in the population and the way of life of the individual

5. Major Turning Points in Human Evolutionary History
Development of bipedalism 6-7 mya
Stone tool manufacture 2.5 mya
Meat eating
Brain growth
Language
Culture (as primary means of adaptation)

6. Why bipedalism? ADVANTAGES: Frees hands/arms for carrying things
Better visibility
Look larger (more threatening)
Keeps body cooler
Energy efficient for long distance travel or activities

8. DISADVANTAGES: More visible to predators
Loss of speed in running/turning quickly
Loss of or injury to one limb hinders mobility